Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-07-13
Water and wa.srworks.

Water is the great transformer. 1t
has wrought wonderful changes on the
surface of the earth and its pathway
may be traced in the deep erosions on
the hill and mountain sides and through
the valleys. 1t is essential to the exist
ence of all organic life. Plants are
washed and their thirst quenched in
the coDious showers. Not so with man.
He cannot wait for chance rains to sup
ply his needs. lie must provide con-
slant supply and have it convenient for
his use. In the preparation of food as
well as in promoting cleanliness and
health of body, water is required to be
pure and abundant. 1t may be had in
springs and wells in many places, but
these are lnconvenient, and in popu-
lous places becomes so polluted as to he
unwholesome. 1t possesses a power
when properly conducted that promotes
variety of the operations of the use
full and mechanic arts. Economy would
teach us to locate where pure water is
abundant at small cost.
Medicine Lodge is so situated, and
has large and increasing demand for
the comfort and protection that may be
had by the construction of water sup
ply. If the elements of safety to prop
erty and health to the people are lack
ing IN any city 1t is serious check to
its prosperity.
l will submit few statistics from
other cities that may be useful by way
of comparing our necessities and abili-
ty with that of cities of the same class:
Abiline, Kansas, with population of
$3.50. has waterworks that cost $40, 600,
at 6 per cent; pumps direct from well;
has 10 miles of pipe, So hydrants and
275 taps.
Bunker Hill, Kansas, population $50,
waterworks cost 81 500; 81 miles of pipe;
pumps direct, with fire MIGRANTS.
Cherryvale, Kansas, population 1900,
has waterworks costing Ss0, 900, 81 miles
of pipe, As fire hydrants, supply
from spring and surface water, pumps
to tank; annual expense $1,000.
Girard, Crawford county, Kansas,
population 2400, waterworks, costing
$4,000. Artisan well pump to
tank. half mile of pipe, hydrants, IS
taps, annual expense $50. Revenue
$500.
Clay Center, Clay county, Kansas,
population 1880 has waterworks, cost
S76,50O.
Ellsworth, Ellsworth county, Kansas,
population 1000 has waterworks cost
ing $4,000.
Newton, in Harvey county, Kansas,
population 5000 has waterworks costing
$4,000.
Winfield, Kansas, population 5000 has
waterworks costing $4,000. Yelling
ton, Kansas, population COCO; has
waterworks costing $4,000.
Peabody, Marion county, Kansas,
population 1900; has waterworks cost
ing $4,000.
There are 81 cities in Kansas that
have constructed waterworks, and 25 of
these were built by private companies,
and 6 were built by the municipalities
l will list few more by way of COM
parison:
Indiana has % public and 9 private
companies. Ohio has As public and IL
private companies Michigan has so
public and IA private companies. Min
Resota has IL public and private COM
panies. Missouri has 2 public and Is
private companies. Nebraska has IL
public and private companies. Neva-
da has public and II private compa-
MES. Iowa has a public and 81 pri-
vate companies. Colorado has IA pub
lie and 10 private companies.
d. J. ABER.